South West France Flashcards
Cahors Rainfall vs Bordeaux?
200mm less in Cahors
What % of production of Bergerac AOC is sold in France?
90% - mainly supermarkets
Largest export market of Bergerac AOC?
China - 40% of all exports
Then Belgium and the UK
Bergerac AOC blending laws?
Must be from two of the following and make up 50% of the wine
Malbec
Cab franc
Cab sauv
Merlot
all Bordeaux varieties except PV and Carmenere
Reputation of Bergerac AOC wines? (5)
Stainless steel or old oak
Easy drinking style
Similar style to Bordeaux AOC
Good to very good
Inexpensive to mid price
Monbazillac wine styles?
100% sweet wines
Monbazillac permitted grape varieties? (4)
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
Semillon
Muscadelle
Monbazillac max yield?
30hL/ha
higher than barsac/Sauternes at 25hL/ha
New oak fermentation in Monbazillac?
Less common than Sauternes. Lower price point
Cahors Malbec plantings %
85% of the regions vines are Malbec
Rainfall in Cahors?
Less than Bordeaux
Less than 800mm per year
Organic grape growing in Cahors?
17% of production. Lower rainfall
soil types in Cahors? (3)
- Rich alluvial around the river
- Poor at mid slope
- Poor limestone on the high plateau
How much of Cahor is exported?
30% by volume
Does Cahor have a Cru system?
No
Cahors early drinking style maceration?
7-10 days, usually with some merlot
Cahors maceration for wines intended to age?
15-25 days, usually just Malbec
Soil types in Madiran? (3)
- Clay limestone
- Clay
- Pebbles
Min aging requirements for Madiran?
Wines can only be sold in November of the year following harvest
Budding/Ripening for Tannat
mid budding
Mid ripening
unique for a red grape
Madiran permitted varietals?
(4)
- Tannat
- Cab Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Fer
Madiran max yield?
55 hL/ha
What unique method of winemaking is common in Madiran?
Stainless steel micro-oxygenation
Three styles of Jurancon?
Jurancon Vendages Tardives (sweet)
Jurancon (medium sweet)
Sec (dry)
Jurancon vineyards are planted on?
- Slopes for drainage (high rainfall)
- South west and south facing slopes for the best sites
Strong wind in The South West of France?(3)
The Föhn.
Hot and dry wind that blows in spring and autumn.
This helps over ripen grapes and dry the canopy
What is a risk in spring for Jurancon? (2)
Spring frosts due to altitude
Budding zone is trained high to mitigate the risk
What raises the cost of sweet wines in Jurancon?
Hand picking, the grapes are picked in a series of selective pickings
When does Jurancon pick?(3)
October for dry wines and some simple sweet wines
November and December for second and third picks
December includes grapes that have dried on the vine
Petit Manseng in the vineyard? (4)
- Early budding - spring frost
- Mid to late ripening - helps with over ripening and late picking
(Same as Falanghina) - Thick skin - resistant to botrytis so late harvest is better
- Open bunches
Petit Manseng tasting note? (3)
High acid
Moderately aromatic
Can reach high alcohol levels - up to 17%
Gross Manseng tasting note?
Similar to Petit Manseng but less aromatic and less intensity
Jurancon blending laws?
Min 50% Petit Manseng and or Gross Manseng
Max yield for Jurancon and Jurancon Vendanges Tardives?
40hL/ha - same as white Burgundy Grand Cru
Max yield for Jurancon Sec?
60hL/ha
same as Beaujolais AOC and Bergerac reds
Jurancon Vendanges Tardives AOC rules? (3)
- Only Petit Manseng and or Gross Manseng
- Min 55 g/L RS
- Grapes cannot be picked before 2nd November
Is Malolactic conversion done in higher quality sweet wines in Jurancon?
No - the PH is too low and acidity is too high
Higher quality dry wines of Jurancon?
- Some Petit Manseng
- Aged on lees
- Stainless steel
A top producer in Jurancon?
Domaine Cauhape
Production of sweet wines vs dry wines as a %?
32% dry wines
67% sweet
